Something I learnt from a classroom training ....

You may idolise a movie star,a singer or even your good-looking neighbour, and tried very hard to imitate him/her. Dress like your idol, speak like your idol or even behave like your idol. All sound quite familiar? But why? You will never become him/her.

We are all unique individuals, having our own distinctiveness that make us stand out in our very own way. By imitating someone else, are you doing the right thing to represent yourself? Think about it. You could be amplifying your weakness without knowing it.

A simple illustration will be participating in a singing competition. You have sang your favourite singer's song everywhere, in the toilet, in KTV room etc, but are you sure you can really sing well? Rather than revealing your weakness to others, why not strengthen your own distinct talents and earn recongition for it instead?

It's probably impossible to try to improve all our weakness so that we become perfect. Unless the weakness becomes an obstacle, there is really no real need to do that. Another simple illustration will be an artist who is not quite organized. However, the hidden characteristic will probably be a sense of freedom which resulted in art pieces that are out of the world. The same weakness illustrated in a surgeon will probably be unacceptable, especially if you are the one undergoing the operation. Then yes, of coz you need to do something about it.

So let's embark on a journey of knowing ourselves better so that we can show off our very best to the world out there! Remember, be original.

^_^

Dear all,

I'm thinking of a road trip to Hokkiado next year, so I need help from everywhere! Things like what to do, where to stay, the expenses. Best if you can recommend me agency that will help me to book everything.. I hate the coordination part, so troublesome! =p

Specifically, I wanna go for the Ice Breaking Cruise at Mombetsu. Noted there's a difference between Ice Breaking Cruise and Ice Drifting Cruise. The latter is located at Abashiri.

Join me in my planning process now! ^_^

Updates:

I'm gonna check out NATAS fair today... Self-drive option seems to be quite expensive...Oh well, anyone tried Dynasty or CTC before? Which one is better?

Personally, preferred Chan Brothers and SA Tours. However, their itineraries are not as comprehensive as CTC and Dynasty...

>.<

This video was taken at my niece's music school concert. Applause to all these little musicians. Some of them are as young as 4 yrs old. Really talented and brave...

At about 9.02, certificate presentation begun, so teacher asked the little kids to sing softer. Instead, they sang even louder so teacher said " very nice, you all can sing for next yr concert"

LOL..funnie

Kids are still kids afterall.... Enjoy the video!

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We went Tsubohachi @ Illuma for a hearty lunch ( I will do a review on Tsubohachi real sooon.. I think? Hoho), before heading to Benten in the same building for ice-cream.

They have so many kind of ice-cream dessert variation on the menu, which was feasting to the eyes too. After a long long time ( it was so hard to make decision!), we decided to order individual ice-cream parfaits as well as the big tub for sharing! Yeah, we were greedy lot. Keke

I just came back from TS/SS. Totally disgusted.  >.<

There are discrepancies between what was communicated to us last week & today. Last week, Eileen said that we would be given 3 yrs from now to finish our package. Today, she told us the expiry was 3 yrs from the time that we signed up with TS. I had signed up with TS in 2008, which means my expiry date was 2011, which was impossible to finish my balance of 30+ body massages. She even pointed out that it was not SS's fault if we dint use our package. In other words, she was implying that IT WAS MY FAULT.. Kaoz..

Com'on, we were told that the package was lifetime at the time of sign up. Dubz... Anyway out of goodwill, she extended it to 2012, which was effectively 2 yrs. So kind huh? Phew..

Last week, she told us that we can have both body massage and facial. Today, she said it had to be purely body massage or purely facial. Initally, I thought if I can have both body massage and facial, I can use 2 session at 1 go, which means I can finish my package faster. Apparently, now I cant do that.

I voiced my concern about the booking of appointment. Eileen said that it has become better. I went to the counter to book, guess what.. fully booked for body massage for the whole month of Sept, including weekday and I cant book for October because it is not opened for appointments yet. This means I cant make any appointment at all even when I was physically there. Phew Again!

Deep down, I oreadi know that I probably wont be able to get my full value of the remaining balance back. I totally understand that SS had brought over the shit from TS, which god knows, why? And I know that I have unevitably become a "second class citizen".

Then again, why gave us empty promises?  If I know Eileen gonna changed her words, I would have settled it last week and not to make a second trip today.

My advice to all, Do Not Sign Up For ANY Package. It seems to be a trend for spa palour etc to close their doors on customers. Is that how they earn huh? Is it ethical at all?

I would rather go Batam and just pay $100+ for a hotel room and a 3 hour massage, with no commitment at all, and definitely zero risk of default payment.

Grrrr....

P.S If anyone of you pursuing the case of claiming your money back from TS/SS, please include me. Let's do it together!

For those True Spa members, I'm sure all of you have been notified by mail that "Subtle Senses (SS) and True Spa (TS) have entered a partnership that would see SS taking over the operations of TS's outlets at Ngee Ann City and Cuppage Terrace". This was quoted in the mailer.

It seems to be a relief....erm, at first... *shrugged*

Seeing so many beauty & nail palours closing down without any compensation to their customers, some even without any notice, customers only found out when they visited the palours.. it sure was a great relief to know that TS and SS is merely a partnership ( not closing down) and that "SS will honour ALL existing packages purchased from TS." Again, quoted in the mailer.

Well, that's what I thought. >.<

Until I suddenly felt like going for a massage, then I realised something amiss. I read through the forums and everyone was practically complaining about the "merger".

I called Cuppage Branch (Tel:62359555), only to be told that it was transferred to Taka Branch. Anyway I tried to make booking but apparently it was all fully booked, yes both weekday evenings and weekends until Sept. Anyway, the ger who I spoke to dint seem to be helpful at all, so I asked for Cuppage number (Tel: 6220 6646 / 6220 6656) to try my luck. These are actually numbers for SS.

I called SS and was told that  TS members can only utilise the facilities at Taka Branch. I'm thinking, WTH, then why did the receptionist at Taka Branch gave me SS's number at Cuppage, knowing that I cant book an appointment there? And when I tried to call back TS, the number ( both 62359555 & 67329555) was either not picked up, or picked up and hung up. This was rather uncomforting and I decided to make a trip down personally.

I went to Taka True Spa and guess what?

WOW...There was a receptionist at the counter!  Then, why nobody answer my calls?? I casually asked whether there's a change of number for Taka branch, which the receptionist told me the number is still the number at 67329555. Anyway, I told the receptionist I'm a TS member and she got another consultant (Eileen) to speak to me.

Eileen went  to retrieve my  personal file, which suppose to have my sign-off for my utilisation. Remember that we were always told to sign off on a white card at the end of the session, yup, referring to those.  Apparently, my file cannot be found for whatsoever reason. The only hardcore information is those records still in the system, which will reflect your package value, your utilisation and your balance.

For illustration purposes, if you sign up for a package of value $4000, and you have used 10 massage session ( 100 credits each) based on the information retrieved from the system/individual files, your remaining balance will be $4k - $1k = $3k. SS will convert this $3k into e.g. 30 session of massage ( 30 x 100 credits), which has to be used within 3 yrs. It will be no longer lifetime, as under TS's regime.

Also, there will be no more hydrobath / foot spa ( Damn it, I really like the hydrobath!) which are free under TS's package. Instead, SS will replace this with body scrub for your massage, or eye mask for facial.

To be fair for both parties, I was told to go back and consider whether I wanna settle by the suggested solution while at the same time, SS try to find my file. Fair enuff.

I'm still pretty sceptical of what's gonna happens next, having read so many negative comments from the forums. So let's see how it goes...

As for the appointment booking, I guess I probably need to make a trip down personally everytime I want to arrange for one coz they dun pick up the call. I should have tried to call the number while I'm standing outside TS/SS -> to test whether it's true the receptionist dun ans call... Whoever is going down, please remember to try!

And oh ya, my consultant resigned just before the announcement. If you read the forums, there were also others whose consultants resigned during the period. Another sign that something was amiss, but I failed to pick it up.

Moral of the story, dun sign up for packages, even if they promise you lifetime usage with no expiry. If you do wanna take up the cheaper offer from getting a package, try to use it as fast as you can. Coz you never know whether you will be the next victim of a closed down parlour. Even such thing happens to a big company like TS which is suppose to be finanically stable. I really have no faith..

Hope this is informative for all TS members like myself, and do leave comments if you have further information to share! I will update again when there's more progress!

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I was surfing for makan place and chanced upon Black Earth, and off we went to check out this new kid at Joo Chiat road. =)